Updated 25 August 2025 with
correct Hume City waste figure.
HiQ, the firm that has plans for a waste-to-energy power plant in Bulla, has upped its proposed annual waste capacity from 300,000 tonnes of rubbish to 750,000 tonnes. Hume City collects 55,000 tonnes of municipal waste a year.
The company first announced plans to develop its Sunbury Rd site in February 2024 with a mini-leaflet drop across Sunbury. Sunbury Life has been following the firm’s plans since the start and all our previous reports can be read here.
As part of its public consultations, the firm – formerly known as Hi Quality and well-known to the EPA – is holding an online webinar on Thursday 4 September where its staff will answer questions from the public. Register here.
The firm states: “Over the past 18 months, we have been engaging with the community on a proposed waste-to-energy facility at HiQ’s Sunbury eco-hub.
“We’re pleased to share that today, Recycling Victoria has granted HiQ a licence under Victoria’s Waste-to-Energy Framework.
“This is a significant milestone that will support HiQ to convert waste into resources that benefit communities and the environment, rather than disposed in landfill.
“On 20 August, Recycling Victoria announced that HiQ has been granted a licence to process up to 750,000 tonnes of residual material under that cap.”
In June, Sunbury councillor Kate Hamley said she was worried about emissions from the proposed incinerator’s 60m smoke stack, traffic increases – with an additional 400 to 800 trucks a day expected to visit the site if the plan gets the green light – and community trust in the operator.”
Before HiQ can continue the design of the facility, it needs to submit and receive environmental and planning applications to ensure potential risk are understood, and that “minimisation and mitigation measures are in place”.
The firm states: “As part of this, we are updating comprehensive technical assessments, including human health, air quality, traffic, groundwater, soil and more.
“We expect these to be submitted to EPA Victoria and the Minister for Planning later this year, and we will keep you updated throughout this process.”
In July local campaigners began to organise against HiQ’s proposal, stating: “We are a group of local residents who are highly concerned about the waste-to-energy incinerator being proposed by HiQ.”
However, the campaigners – who run the No Waste Incinerator in Sunbury Facebook page – have not made themselves known to Sunbury Life.
In January 2024 Sunbury Life asked your [then] local representatives for their views on HiQ’s proposals. You can read them here. Cllr Jarrod Bell, now city mayor, did not respond.
Geelong Sustainability says it has “deep concerns” about waste-to-energy technology and regulations.